Current Affairs 10th Sep 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Vessels

Context: Recently Two anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft vessels of the Indian Navy’s Mahe class were launched at the Cochin Shipyard.

About Newly Inducted Vessels

• INS MALPE and INS MULKI are 4th and 5th in a series of Eight ASW Vessels deal signed between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Ltd.(CSL) in 2019.
  • Mahe, Malvan, and Mangrol, were earlier Mahe-class vessels built by CSL.
  • The Mahe-class of ships will replace the in-service Abhay-class ASW corvettes
• Features:
  • Designed to accommodate indigenously developed sonar for underwater surveillance.
  • Equipped with light-weight torpedoes, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) rockets and mines.
  • Installed propulsion power: 12 MW

What are Anti-Submarine Warfare Vessels?

• ASW vessels are designed to detect, track, and destroy enemy submarines.
• They are equipped with a variety of weaponry and tactics and can be used for low-intensity maritime operations and mine-laying.
• Role of ASW Vessels:
  • Search and Rescue
  • Anti-submarine operations in coastal waters
  • Low intensity maritime operations and mine-laying operations

Elongated Tortoise

Context: Recently an Elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) was spotted in Haryana’s Damdama area during a research survey in the Aravallis.

About Elongated Tortoise

• It is also known as Sal Forest Tortoise
• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
• Cites: Appendix II
• Habitat:
  • Open deciduous forest patches, including Sal Forest
  • Evergreen forest habitats
  • Dry thorn forests & Savannah grasslands.
• Distribution:
  • Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Cambodia etc.
  • India: Himalayan foothills and Northeast India
• Threats:
  • Forest Fires
  • Hunting & Illegal Collection for Pet Trade
  • Habitat loss & Over-exploitation

Helium & its Space Applications

Context: Recently Many space missions have encountered problems due to faulty propulsion systems & other problems related to Helium leaks. This includes Boeing’s Starliner & SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission.

About Helium

• It is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas
• It has a very low density, as compared to oxygen and nitrogen.
• It is chemically inert and doesn’t react with most other substances.
• It has a low boiling point (-268.9 °C), allowing it to remain a gas even in super-cold environments.
• It is nonflammable and doesn’t react with oxygen.

Applications/Uses of Helium

• Space Sector
  • It is used to pressurise fuel tanks, ensuring fuel flows to the rocket’s engines without interruption.
  • It is used to detect leaks in critical equipment such as rocket engines
  • It is used to cool scientific payloads & to refrigerate fuel-handling systems.
• Other Applications:
  • Medical: It is used in MRI machines and to treat respiratory conditions like asthma and emphysema
  • Manufacturing: It is used in the production of semiconductors and fiber optics. It’s also used in arc welding as an inert protective gas.
  • Barcodes: Helium-neon gas lasers are used in barcode scanners at supermarkets.

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